Record world champion Lewis Hamilton fueled hopes of his first Formula 1 victory in a Ferrari with the fastest time of the day in training in Monaco.
The 41-year-old Brit left his teammate Charles Leclerc behind on his fastest lap on the opening day in Monte-Carlo. The Monegasque native had previously won the first practice session ahead of Hamilton, and Ferrari starts the sixth Grand Prix weekend of the year as the clear favorite.
Third place in training was taken by Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen, who was faster than the last two dominant Mercedes drivers. World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli had to give up fourth place to his currently fiercest title rival George Russell in the second Silver Arrow.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said on “Sky” about the strength of the Ferrari: “In the narrow, angular passages they are in a league of their own.”
Next setback for Lando Norris
World champion Lando Norris, winner in Monaco last year, suffered the next setback in his McLaren after his gearbox damage in Canada. The defending champion parked his car due to a battery problem just a few minutes into the second practice session.
Because the brakes on Sergio Perez’s Cadillac caught fire, the session had to be interrupted shortly before the end.
Nico Hülkenberg returned to the garage in eighth place overall in the Audi. The 38-year-old would like to finally get his first World Cup points this year in his adopted hometown.
Before the race on Sunday (3 p.m./RTL and Sky), Antonelli leads the World Championship standings by 43 points over his stable rival Russell. The 19-year-old Italian Antonelli has recently won four races in a row, Mercedes is still unbeaten in the Grand Prix this season.